Tortorella hopes to see improved power play

About the only place the Rangers have struggled this season is on the power play, and coach John Tortorella said he's hoping to see that area of his team's game improve when it plays the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.

He has reason to expect his team to get better in that category against the Flyers. In five meetings this season, the Rangers are 5-for-19 with the extra man, a 26.3-percent efficiency that dwarfs their regular-season average of 15.1 percent.

In Sunday's loss to the Bruins, though, the Rangers went 0-for-3, including a 22-second 5-on-3 advantage.

"We want to go into the playoffs with our special teams consistent at both ends," Tortorella told reporters. "I think our power play is coming. Our penalty killing has been consistent all year long. If you have those two, it gives you a foundation, it gives you an advantage of trying to find your way."

Tortorella said one way of helping solidify things is putting center Derek Stepan on the point.

"The biggest thing that has helped our power play having Step there is having him have the puck," Tortorella said. "He sees the ice well and he does bring a certain amount of patience to it to where we have the puck under control more."

Contact Adam Kimelman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @NHLAdamK

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